Kyle Johnson

Location: Root River Parkway Prairie
Milwaukee County

Search after 5:45pm...another oppressively hot day! No sign of Poweshieks at this interesting prairie remnant but then again butterfly activity overall was hampered by the heat. Lots of prairie dock and other good prairie plants.

Madison Butterfly Count

Location: Madison
Dane County

The 22nd annual NABA Madison Butterfly Count. 95 degrees and very humid. We found 440 butterflies of 32 species. Two species were new to the count: Pipevine Swallowtail and Sachem. All time high count for Orange Sulphur. 9 of the species were migrants from the South. 15 Common Buckeyes.

Fern Springs

Location: OJ Falge Park in Ladysmith
Rusk County

1:00, sunny, 100 degrees. Lots of critters, but only one butterfly. Geese were all out cooling off in the water. Red winged black birds were not happy I was walking by. Pappa threatened to give me a new hairdo.

Ron Arnold

Location: my property in the town of Seneca
Wood County

It only got up to 103 today, brrrr. This was just a couple of quick checks today to see if any species missing from yesterday's NABA count decided to show up. None did, but the Little Yellow made an appearance. My property was the only location where it wasn't seen yesterday. I'm still recovering from yesterday's effort and I'm saving up for Saturday's SWBA field trip.

Aaron Carlson

Location: Grandma Lake Wetlands SNA
Florence County

mostly sunny, 94F. I probably could've had a huge list for this sighting. Driving toward the SNA on Tie Mill Road - the road was literally carpeted with butterflies the entire drive, numbers would've been in the several hundreds. I didn't stop, due to only having a narrow time window to explore the SNA. The only one I identified on sight were the White Admirals and they were too numerous to count. I could also tell there were lots of fritillaries, skippers, sulphurs and comma types, and probably several more. The wood-nymphs were seen on the short trail to Grandma Lake, and in the bog itself, I only saw the bog coppers.

Donnalynn Bloedel

Location: Eisenbaum Trail near Campbellsport
Fond du Lac County

Butterflies are very scarce around here lately. Maybe because we have had no rain for weeks and very high temps. I saw 1 very worn Eastern Tiger Swallowtail today..I haven't seen another Swallowtail in over a week.

SWBA field trip, 10 participants

Location: Sandhill Wildlife Area
Wood County

Cooler temperatures today helped with butterfly watching. The day started out cloudy but butterflies were easily found in the vegetation. Sunshine returned and so did nectaring activity. Butterflies seen but not identified to species were a White and a Tiger Swallowtail.

John Davis

Location: in my backyard in Prairie du Chien
Crawford County

Nice July day, mid 80s and reasonably humid with some wind. Both Fritillaries were in the backyard at the same time, very hard to tell apart with wings closed. The skippers were intent on chasing each other, making it difficult get any pictures.

Karl and Dorothy Legler, Dr. Douglas Buege

Location: The Wisconsin portion of the Dubuque NABA Butterfly Count circle.
Grant County

This is the 10th year for this portion of the Dubuque circle. 3 species were new to the count: American Snout, Fiery Skipper and Giant Swallowtail. Record high numbers of Little Yellows, Orange Sulphurs, Juniper Hairstreak and Common Buckeye.

Kyle Johnson

Location: Doyle Road Prairies (S of Blue River)
Grant County

Survey of bluff prairie remnants; additional species sighted but not recorded. One female Columbine Duskwing observed flying about and apparently ovipositing on columbine. Had high hopes for Ottoe Skipper (habitat looked good) but found out the site had been burned several times over...the grass skipper fauna was pretty sparse (only the single Delaware Skipper!).

Daniel Jackson

Judith Huf

Location: Riveredge Nature Center
Ozaukee County

Since I missed last week's butterfly count at Riveredge because of visiting family, I decided to take advantage of the break in the hot weather to check out this beautiful area. 44 Swamp Metalmarks were found on the count, but scrupulously keeping to the path, I only managed to see two. Despite the drought, there were hundreds of Ebony Jewelwings flitting about the woods along with many other lovely Odonata. Also found some interesting beetles (not yet identified) on some raccoon scat that was filled with pieces of crayfish parts. I was intrigued by the amazing camouflage of a Question Mark with closed wings.

Mary Roth

Kyle Johnson

Location: Hanson Prairie/S end of Rush Creek SNA
Crawford County

Survey of a private property bluff prairie just south of Rush Creek SNA (Armund Bartz joined me early in the day), and a small bluff within the SNA (not an area which has received much attention I believe). From both prairies you can see the south main bluff of Rush Creek SNA.

Finally an Ottoe Skipper! I found a single worn male in the SNA property (picture facing the river) which was not bad given that Dan Sonnenberg found none at the main Rush Creek area the same day (had no idea he was there!), the flight period was near the end, and butterfly activity overall was poor. There is a good chance both remnants support viable Ottoe populations.

TREMPEALEAU NABA BUTTERFLY COUNT

This was the 23rd annual Trempealeau NABA butterfly count. 11 observers found 430 butterflies of 37 species. New to the count was Fierly Skipper (8), bringing the cumulative total species to 74. Only occurring for the 3rd time were American Snout (2), Giant Swallowtail (8) and Broad-winged Skipper (2). Other interesting species were Little Yellow (19), Dainty Sulphur, Common Buckeye (8), Tawny Emperor, Dion Skipper, and Bronze Copper.

Mike Reese

Location: Brockway Rd.
Jackson County

Wetland area along the dirt road south of the ATV trail with lots of clover and birdsfoot trefoil providing the nectar, and along a access road in the SNA where hoary vervain was the main nectar source.

Connie Stout

Ryan Brady

Location: Taylor Lane north of Grand View on south end of Bibon Swamp
Bayfield County

All the commas were fresh. Lots of milkweed coming into bloom. Joe-pye weed abundant but not yet in bloom. My single day high count for Dion Skipper and only my second Delaware Skipper ever. Lots of butterflies overall. For the dragonfly lovers, also had 5 species of striped emeralds (Somatochlora), 2 snaketails, Black-tipped Darner, and others.

Judith Huf

Location: Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Milwaukee County

The butterflies seem fewer and smaller than last year; is it because of the drought? The ground is cracked, the ponds drying up. The only advantage is the lack of mosquitoes. Tried to get a good picture of one Sulphur which was a beautiful greenish white.

D Nussbaum

Location: CB Park, Town of Menasha
Winnebago County

Went to CB Park to check out the prairie only to find it was planted in Soy Beans. This prairie wasn't the best so I am hoping they are just planting crops for a few years to get rid of the weeds before they replant it. Didn't spend much time here.

Rod Everson

Location: My garden, Town of North Bend
Jackson County

During mid-afternoon, two fritillaries, one bedraggled and one in good shape, kept visiting the purple coneflowers. A single Giant Swallowtail flitted through the pink phlox for over 10 minutes as well.

Jym Mooney

NABA Butterfly Count at Sister Bay

Location: 15 mile diameter circle centered at Sister Bay.
Door County

This was the 12th annual NABA Butterfly Count at Sister Bay. 5 observers, armed with close-focusing binoculars, found 558 individuals of 39 species. That ties the 39 species in 2001. Variegated Fritillary (4) was new to the count. A cumulative total of 53 species have been seen in the 12 years of the count. Cabbage White and Fiery Skipper were NOT seen until the next day (too late!) at the restaurant where we ate lunch! We also saw Arrowhead Spiketails (dragonfly).

Eric Preston

Dan Sonnenberg

Location: My yard
Marquette County

94 degrees and sunny. Went out at 12:30 today to lightly water a row of Zinnias I planted last evening, and a Common Checkered Skipper was there puddling. The last time I saw one in the yard was almost 2 years ago. A Dainty Sulphur was puddling in the neighbors tiny flower garden earlier.

Jim Ebner

Location: my yard, Okauchee Lake
Waukesha County

Scarcity of butterflies persists. Butterfly bush and dwarf zinnias deliver what few butterflies are out and about, however. Observed a female Fiery skipper laying eggs on my lawn, and also noticed a scarce web moth nectaring on buddleia.

Mike Reese

Location: Tie Mill Rd
Florence County

After seeing 100s of butterflies on the road the last time I was here, it seemed pretty deserted. Fortunately, newly emerged Green Commas, Gray Commas, and Compton Tortoiseshells made up for the lack of butterfly numbers.

Mike Reese

Location: Douglas County State Wildlife Area
Douglas County

There were definitely some butterflies here, but the were mostly Common Wood-Nymphs nectaring on goldenrod and white meadowsweet. In one less than 10 square yard area of nectar sources there were 32 of them nectaring.

Esjay

Location: Crex Meadows
Burnett County

Puddles not as active as I had hoped. Hot but not as windy. Clouded under counted (wouldnt settle down) Pink edged out again. Possible checkered white but wouldnt settle down. First Fiery (and 3 of them!).

Sylvia Edlebeck

Location: Fitchburg, private property
Dane County

Mid-90's, very humid, and mostly sunny. I didn't stay outside very long. Also very very dry. Southern Wisconsin needs rain badly. Cabbage whites everywhere. The favorite nectar plant of the day was liatris.

Dan Sonnenberg

Location: Summerton Bog SNA and my yard
Marquette County

98 Degrees and hazy. Found the Checkered Skipper in my garden again near the mallow. the rest were in the bog. Took some people out in Summerton Bog to look for rare plants. Spent most of my time entertaining them. Extremely dry.

Deb Hyde

Mike Reese

Location: Brockway Rd.
Jackson County

I noticed some blazing star in flower in Douglas County and wanted to see how the cylindrical blazing star was doing. Not good. Although there were some flowers, they appeared stressed and I saw nothing nectaring on them. Instead I watched several Karner Blues nectaring on Flowering Spurge, about the only other thing in flower

Northern Kettle Moraine NABA butterfly count, 7 observers

This was the 16th annual NABA butterfly count at Northern kettle Moraine. 7 counters in two groups, armed with close-focusing binoculars, found 282 individuals of 38 species. But we only found 23 individuals per hour which is only 39% of the average butterfly density on this count! Three factors probably contributed to the low density: 1) drought conditions, 2) advanced flight periods, and 3) heat (high of 98 degrees). 3 species were new to the count: Fiery Skipper (11), Giant Swallowtail (10) and Common Checkered-Skipper (1). 5 Common Buckeyes is highest ever. Photos of the Harvester and Giant Swallowtails by Dan Sonnenberg. Photo of the worn Swamp Metalmark by Mike Reese.

Judith Huf

Location: Schlitz Audubon Natue Center
Milwaukee County

A littlerain last night and this morning and somewhat cooler weather made the world look better this morning. The blooming Monarda was very popular with the butterflies today. There was only one Sachem among the many Fiery Skippers. The Buckeye was tiny; looked half the size of a normal Buckeye.

Jorgen Goderstad

Tod Highsmith

Location: Olbrich Gardens and Olbrich Park, East Side Madison
Dane County

Only spent about 40 minutes here, but saw lots of butterfly and dragonfly activity. Also saw a Great Spreadwing damselfly. The Little Yellow was a first for me in our neighborhood. No sign of Pipevine Swallowtails.

Fern Springs

Ryan Brady, Mike Reese, Dave Hanson, et al.

Location: NABA count west of Ashland
Bayfield County

6 participants in 2 parties covering just a small portion of the count circle. Record high 44 species. Highlights were 6 Little Yellows, 3 Fiery Skippers, 11 Dion Skippers, and boatloads of fritillaries. Few anglewings compared to previous years but those seen were beautifully fresh. Also saw a Dun Skipper and a Green Comma get captured by tiger beetle larvae, presumably C. repanda.

Sylvia Edlebeck

Location: Stricker's Pond, Middleton
Dane County

Mid-70's and cloudy. The day after the measurable rain in southern Wisconsin. I was at Stricker's Pond looking mostly for shorebirds but happened upon these two tiny butterflies. The dainty sulphur was the first I've ever seen. I didn't see any other butterflies at all, which seemed kind of odd.

D Nussbaum

SWBA and Prairie Enthusiasts field trip

Location: Flowers, Butterflies and Birds of Schurch-Thomson Prairie
Iowa County

Seventeen people met to tour the prairies south of Cave of the Mounds on an overcast Saturday morning. Rich Henderson showed all apparent damage from the drought. Butterflies were focusing on lower areas in the hilly prairie, where more flowers provided nectar. A cicada killer was seen.

Thanks to Dan Sonnenberg for keeping track of butterfly species seen and Sylvia Edlebeck for the photos. Rich believes that the Gray Hairstreak is a new sighting for the prairie.

Aaron Carlson

Location: My yard, Menomonie
Dunn County

Mostly sunny, 87F. Saw the fiery skipper and orange sulphur visiting Echinacea flowers in my front yard. I observed the monarch laying eggs on the common milkweed that has overtaken our back yard garden. The swallowtail was just passing through, and the silver-spotted skipper was filling up on our abundant Monarda.

D Nussbaum

Location: Marsh Rd. south of Weyauwega
Waupaca County

I had no plans on stopping but I drove down my favorite gravel road and spotted a copper so I stopped to find out what kind. As soon as I got out I spotted a Little Yellow that took me on a short journey. Butterflies everywhere, including possibly a dozen or more Dainty Sulphurs. I put down four because I kept losing them and couldn't be sure if I was recounting them. Three times I could see two at once. The copper? Saw it one other time but could not get a photo or an ID. Good stop.

D Nussbaum

Location: Weyauwega/Fremont Nature Area
Waupaca County

Before I got off the parking lot I spotted a tiny yellow butterfly. I figured it must be a Dainty Sulphur, my first. It took about twenty minutes before I could get a decent photo of it. Then it just sat and let me take all I wanted.

D Nussbaum

Location: Brillion Nature Center
Calumet County

The upper prairie had few butterflies compared to the gravel portion of Bastian Rd. where lots of puddling was going on. Mostly Orange Sulphurs but also Clouded, Northern Crescents and E Tailed-Blues. The totals with pluses could possibly be doubled and still be accurate. The numbers were amazing. Lots also farther south and west of the parking lot.

Mike Reese

Tod Highsmith

Location: Olbrich Gardens, Madison
Dane County

Spent about an hour here during the noon heat. Fiery Skippers everywhere and lots of dragonfly egg-laying going on in the sunken gardens. Their Blooming Butterflies event is going on this week and next and I was getting lots of "What are you looking at?" questions from staff and visitors who saw me with binos and who are more keyed in to butterflies than usual.

Sylvia Edlebeck

Location: Badger Prairie County Park, Verona
Dane County

The park is suffering the effects of the drought. There are cracks in the dirt on the paths. The liatris is undersized and not nearly as widespread as in other years. The water level in the pond is way down.

Judith Huf

Location: Havenwoods State Forest
Milwaukee County

Joined 4 others for a butterfly count on this beautiful sunny and not too hot day. Despite the beautiful weather, not a lot of butterflies; maybe because the flowers aren't as good this year because of the drought.

Esjay

Location: Crex Meadows
Burnett County

Butterfly numbers seem to be declining but time management an issue this day. Fiery skippers in one spot each of the past 3 weeks, with a total of 5 locations over the past 3 weeks. Dainty sulphurs consistantly in 3 locations

Jaye Nelson

Location: Lake Front Windpoint lighthouse
Racine County

First useful sighting this month. Today cluster of Cabbage Whites and fFery Skippers at the lighthouse and one Red Admiral in my neighbor's back yard. Last sighting was July 4 of Eastern Tail-Blue in my back yard. Only the rare Cabbage White all month. Lots of dragonflies, bees and wasps however.

Sylvia Edlebeck

Location: UW Arboretum, Madison
Dane County

Around 5:30pm, 90 degrees and sunny. I only spent about half an hour near the McKay Center. The only butterflies I saw were 5 fiery skippers on one plant. Two of them were especially entertaining as they made their way around and around one stalk of flowers.